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LILLE, France — Victor Wembanyama was nervous.
The 20-year-old phenom who had spent his entire rookie season in the NBA showing why he was worth every ounce of his extraordinary hype, and who has the comforts of his homeland behind him in his debut Olympic Games, spent the days leading into Saturday’s debut against Brazil on edge.
Even if he didn’t show it once the game finally arrived.
The box score of Wembanyama’s first game on this special stage reveals nothing about his angst, as he finished with 19 points, nine rebounds, four blocks and three steals in France’s 78-66 win at Pierre Mauroy Stadium. Ditto for his highlights, among them this left-handed dunk that made his teammate, Nicolas Batum, say, “What the f—?” as he watched from underneath the rim.
But as his coach, Vincent Collet, shared afterward, Wembanyama is hardly impervious to the pressure that has been placed upon him for so many years now. The remarkable part, which was there for the world to see in his first official game on this special stage, is that he continues to push through it when it’s time to perform.
“I think for the first time of his career he was a little bit stressed,” Collet said afterward. “This week, I would say three days before the game, I felt he was a little bit stressed. So we talked together and everybody around, (his) teammates, (the) rest of the staff, and we tried to help him. and I think he’s so mature, day by day he got better with that and he just wanted to start.
“He was a little bit nervous. In France, everybody waits for him like — I don’t know which word to use, but everybody waits for him. You have the people who know basketball, and they understand he’s only 20 years old. But people that like sports but (who) don’t know basketball, they think Victor is already Michael Jordan. (But) take time. Take time.”
An American reporter, clearly in jest, quipped that Wembanyama wasn’t far behind MJ already.
“Ah, he’s not far …” Collet said with a smile.
Hyperbole aside, Wembanyama’s evening was a fascinating bit of basketball theater. Despite his age, he is the clear alpha male and face of the future for this French team that features veterans like Batum, Rudy Gobert, and Evan Fournier, the 31-year-old veteran who last played with the Detroit Pistons. Those three have led their national program for so many years now. Wembanyama’s two-way brilliance, coupled with the physical capabilities that Brazilian big man (and former NBA player) Bruno Caboclo called “inhuman,” already demands that the French find a way to maximize their young phenom as quickly as possible. Especially in light of Joel Embiid’s controversial decision to play for Team USA rather than join forces with the French.
But like Collet made clear, it’s a process — one that was a major topic of discussion among his teammates, coach, opposing players and Wembanyama himself afterward. The following is a collection of what they all saw on this night of Wemby history.
Nicolas Batum
It’s easy to play basketball with him. It’s easy. (It’s) the size first, (but) he knows how to play the game. I’ve played with so many great players in my career, but to play with a young guy like (him) with so high an IQ, it’s easy to play with him, around him, (to know) how to give him the ball. I mean, he’s so good. The defense is so attracted to him, so you just try to get him in the right spots, so we can play around him.
The two big guys inside (with Gobert, the Minnesota Timberwolves star who is a four-time Defensive Player of the Year in the NBA) is something amazing to play with on defense. I’ve never played with two guys like that before. So tonight, I was like, let me (guard) the point guard. If you drive, good luck. (Laughs)
(Wembanyama) knows who he is. He knows what he has to do to be great. On one play, he was like, “OK, I’ll go to set a screen.’ I said, ‘No, no, no, no. Stay down there and take the ball and play. Take us home. That’s who you are right now.’ He’s not scared for the moment. He showed that in the first half.
Victor Wembanyama scored 19 points in his debut Olympic performance for France, adding nine rebounds and four blocks. (Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)
Victor Wembanyama
It’s about taking everything that’s given to me and communicating a lot with my teammates. You know, it’s about sacrifices, I’d say. We’re all here for a purpose. … We’re all ready to give our spot to the next guy. So this is what it’s about.
The guys here who have played together for a long time, I mean, I think Nic (Batum) and the coach have known each other, have played together for the first time 20 years ago. So they know each other, and I like the way they’ve tried to install me in the system.
To that end, Collet made it clear that he wants Wembanyama to spend the vast majority of his time in the paint in these Games. Even with his developing skills from the outside — Wembanyama averaged 5.5 3-point attempts last season while shooting 32.5 percent from beyond the arc — the French team believes he’s best used down low.
Vincent Collet
For Victor, the main thing was to go inside where he is sure to dominate every time. If he plays too much perimeter, he’s like any other player. Some night you make the shots, and some nights you don’t make (them). And when you are stressed, you have more chance not to make (them).
Even being a leader, he cannot win by himself. He needs teammates to help him, and that’s what they did. Batum, especially tonight, but others too, I think we cannot be good if we don’t find this chemistry, for sure. Victor is our target on offense, but we need to find a way to involve everybody.
Evan Fournier
I mean, we are still trying to figure it out (with Wembanyama). Playing with Rudy (Gobert) and him has its challenges offensively, spacing-wise. Offensively, he can do so many things, (but) sometimes he struggles to just stay to his spacing. He’s always cutting and moving, because he sees opportunities. We’ve only played with each other for three weeks with Vic, so we’re trying to get him the ball closer to the basket, obviously, with good matchups. That’s been the key for us. We’re still trying to figure it out, and hopefully we can help him. … As far as getting him to play our brand of basketball with him, I think we should help him.
Bruno Caboclo
I think he didn’t miss in the second quarter, and France was relying on him. So they took advantage on that. In the second half, he didn’t score very much, so guys had to make plays. We tried to make a run to get the score down, but France played better. … I think they tried to figure out how to play with him and Gobert together. He’s getting his rhythm as well to play for the national team with these new guys. So I think it’s gonna take time to know what everybody can do together, and I think they have a bright future. It’s just a matter of time (for Wembanyama). He’s just gonna keep getting better. He’s very young, and the sky’s the limit for him.
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(Top photo of Victor Wembanyama: Christina Pahnke – sampics / Getty Images)